Prevalence of tuberculosis and rifampicin resistant Mycobacterium tuberculosis among patients receiving treatment in ercc medical center alushi, Nasarawa state, Nigeria

Abstract

This study carried out a hospital based retrospective review of patients who had been screened for Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MTB) and Rifampicin resistant- Tuberculosis between January 2017 and July 2021 at the ERCC Medical Center, Alushi, a tuberculosis referral facility in Nasarawa state. The study included 3029 patients suspected of having TB, and the overall TB prevalence was 43.57% (1530 cases). Of the patients, 64.90% (933) were male, and 2.31% had rifampicin resistance. Meanwhile, 35.09% (537) were female, and 7.07% had rifampicin resistance. The highest TB prevalence was observed in the age groups 21-30 and 31-40, with 26.51% (350 cases) and 24.77% (327 cases), respectively. The study revealed that females and patients aged 21 to 40 were at a higher risk of developing rifampicin-resistant TB. Early identification of drug-resistant TB and prompt treatment is crucial to prevent its spread in the community. Community health education programs should be continuously implemented to raise awareness about TB and the risks of drug resistance, improving prevention and control efforts.